THE village hall in Queen Adelaide was given a fresh coat of paint inside and out this week thanks to a willing band of volunteers.

The hall is well used by residents of the village, just outside of Ely, but was in need of a lick of paint to ensure it remains in good shape for the busy summer period.

The hall committee applied to the City of Ely Council last year for a grant to help cover the costs and received a donation of £200.

They also approached Fenland-based Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and Recycling Network for 60 litres of paint and for help whipping the hall back into shape.

The network provides work experience opportunities for the long term unemployed and 10 of their current and previous users volunteered to join staff in repainting the hall.

Hall caretaker Brian Akred said: “The hall looks really fantastic now, and we are immensely grateful to all involved, to the network for supplying the paint, volunteers and everything we needed, the City of Ely Council for providing funding and the team from CUB UK.

“We are a small village with an even smaller committee, and the hall is the only public facility left in the village, so it’s well used and appreciated by residents of Queen Adelaide and nearby.”